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Nearly one year after earthquakes and an ensuing tsunami devastated Japan, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy visited the country and offered a message of hope and love.

Over 12 days in February, Elder Oaks and Elder Hallstrom, accompanied by their wives, Sister Kristen Oaks and Sister Diane Hallstrom, traveled through the Asia North Area, stopping at Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Sendai, and Tokyo, as well as many coastal cities in the Tohoku area.

In an article by the Church News, Elder Oaks explained one purpose of the trip: “We sought to give comfort following the terrible disaster and tsunami that occurred just about a year ago and also to give the teaching and testimony we always give when meeting with missionaries and members of the Church.”

Elder Oaks and other Church leaders met with Japanese Latter-day Saints, missionaries, and others and encouraged them to “look for the way that the Lord will consecrate your affliction for your gain.”

Although we do not know why tragedies happen to some of us, he said, we do know that the Lord will strengthen us in times of need to help us reach our divine potential through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.